Abraham, Martin And John

~John Calvin~

~Martin Luther~

1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 1 - 6 NKJV

A dear friend of ours has been traveling with his wife to Germany for a week or so now.  A big part of this trip was to explore his family homeland, along with the roots and locations of Luthers protestant reformation.  Ironically, the word we use for reformation comes from the latin word "reformatio," meaning restoration or renewal.  That seems pretty appropriate considering the very reason that Martin Luther broke from traditions and heritage of the state run Roman Catholic church was due to those very same traditions.  One of Luthers complaints against the church came over the churches sale of indulgences.  Basically, the church was selling get out of hell free cards.  In Luthers mind, what power did a mere man, the pope, have to raise up or condemn a mans soul?  Indeed, Luther had a long list of grievances against the state run church.  Of course, it was the Roman leader Constantine who had incorporated the church into a state entity.  What better way to control the masses...genius.  It is for this very reason that to this day I have huge issues with the catholic church.  A institution which prides itself on the adoration and worship of man made traditions and objects over our God.  Sure it sounds good, but everything sounds good for awhile.  Thus was the basis for Luthers...renewal of the church.  As the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14, who are we to judge anothers servant?  Indeed, God is able to make all men stand...or fall.  Above all, man made traditions meant to control Gods children masked as religion is absolutely wrong.

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’seat. 3“Therefore whatever they tell you ato observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5“But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23: 1 -12 NKJV

After Luther came the second member of our crew, a man named John Calvin.  Calvin also shared in Luthers beliefs that the Roman Catholic church was, shall we say, heretical.  So the protestant reformation rolled along.  In my mind, the basis of the Catholicism is the inherent control over those it supposedly serves.  That was the initial goal of Constantine, which seems to have been carried forward to the modern catholic church.  Now, before a few of my cohorts get on my case for yet another anti institutional church rant, I'll step off of my soapbox.  The fact is that Christ Jesus himself has told us that NONE are to be called teacher or Rabbi.  For there is one who has claim to both of those titles...the man Christ Jesus.  Our focus is not to be upon those positions or traditions of men...but on Christ.  It is Christ who has given of Himself that we would be forgiven, and Christ Himself who lives through us today {Galations 2:20}.  Therefore, we who have Christ Jesus are not bound to these traditions.

4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
1 Corinthians 8: 4 - 6 NKJV

~Scott~